February 1927
109
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Outline Studies in the Epistles of John T. C. H orton
THE F IRST EPISTLE OF JOHN Outline of the Epistle: (1) Introduction (1 :l-4). (2) God is Light. Fellowship with God in light (1:5 to 2:28). (3) God is Love. The sonship of the believer (2 :29 to 3:24). (4) Source of Sonship: Possessed by the Spirit (4:1 to 5:12). .(5) Conclusion. The law of love (5 :13- 21 ). Outline of Chapter Five : (1) Truth’s Conflict and Conquest, vs. 1-5. (2) Threefold Confirmation of Deity of Jesus Christ, vs. 6-13. (3.) Teaching Concerning Intercessory Prayer, vs. 14-17. (4) Three Certainties, vs. 18-21. Having previously considered Divisions (1) and (2) of Chapter Five, we now come to (3) TEACHING CONCERNING IN TERCESSORY PRAYER, vs. 14-17. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything accord ing to his will, he .heareth u s; “And if we know that he hear us, what soever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do hot say that he shall pray for it. “All unrighteousness is .sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” Prayer is a family matter. We are children, communing with our Father. There is perfect freedom. We open our hearts. We have liberty. Prayer, becomes a life of love. We have reverence for our Father and we have a love that binds our hearts together in fellowship with each other and with Him. There is no uncertainty in our requests nor in our faith that He hears and answers. The answers to our prayers are the as surance to us that we are God’s own chil dren. This accentuates our fellowship with our risen Lord. “According to His will” is an essential limitation. When there is ,war between two nations and Christians on both sides are praying for victory, God alone can decide when and how to answer. He adjusts conditions and circumstances according to His own will, and we have the answer. (John 14:13).: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
(John 15 :7) : “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye' shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 16:24) : “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” The priesthood of believers is a blessed and practical reality. Priests are for others. Men are liable to sin because of the inherent weakness of poor human na ture;, bue we should pray for them, not prattle about them; not condemn them; not. sit in judgment On them; not turn away from them..-,(James 5:19, 20): “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him : “Let him know that he that converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” (Gal. 6 : l | | | | “Brethren, if .a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which- are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness ; consid ering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law, of Christ.” The sixteenth verse contains a per plexing statement concerning a “sin unto death,” but it is evident that this refers to a. state not an act. There are several other passages, of similar import, which invite attention. For instance, John 15:6: “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them .into the fire, and they are burned.” Here, severance from Christ is sug gested, wliile in Luke 12:10, the sin refer red to is against the Holy Ghost: “And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be for given him; but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven.” In Hebrews 6 :4-6 fixed impenitence is implied: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made par takers of the Holy Ghost, “And -have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,. “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they cru
cify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” In Philippians 3:18, 19, reference is made to the “enemies, of the cross of Christ: “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their .belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” . However, these passages must be con sidered in the light of other Scriptures such as John 3 :36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son. shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 5 :24) : “Verily, verily, I say unto -you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” . , ; and the verse immediately preceding (1 John 5:13): “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eter nal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Exceptions always establish a rule, and there may be such a thing as apostasy. In any event, a grave responsibility rests upon believers. Let us be sure that we are in touch with the Lord^-“grieve not the Spirit.” Let us be sure that we are friends of Christ—obedient to His will. Let none presume, but hold fast to the assurance of salvation, as given in the Word of God, and live in constant fel lowship with God. Brethren are dependent upon each other, and the prayers of a good man or a good woman are of inestimable value to us. (James 5:16): “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Souls are in our hands,—alienated from God, entangled with temptation, en gulfed in doubt, hardened by trials—pray for them 1 (To be continued)
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